How many of us are limited to public land? I am, for one, and the challenges are starting to get to me.
The area is hard to get to. Its a string of Islands, with walking access to the first one, and thats it. I use a canoe, to get away from the crowd, and that generally works. Its a big effort to get the right time to hunt there. Not only do I watch the wind, but I have to play the tide, or Ill get stuck .5 mile out in waist deep marshy muck. All of the attributaries allow access on the northern side of the islands, so one wrong wind, and all of the islands are out. So, tonight everything lines up, and we are on our way. We get to an island that is just about a mile out, and set up in a persimmon grove that is dropping persimmons all over the place, AND it has one of the only producing acorn trees in the area. I get in the stand, and sit. 2, 3, 4 hours pass, and the wind dies down, and all looks bright. All of a sudden, here comes this golden retriever and one of his running buddies (another local dog) chasing a raccoon, back and forth, all through the area.
Just can get the planets to line up right, I guess!
I hear you brother! I was out tonight and I've never seen so many cars in the parking area that I hunt from. It's really frustrating, but I'd rather have this happen than not have the land to hunt on. Last year I barely saw another person while hunting back in "my" area, now they're crawling all over the place!
- How did the retriever and other dog get to the island? Did they swim? That's weird!
Matt
I feel for you. Public land can be frustrating for many reasons. The list goes on and on.
There are certainly times when "the planets won`t line up" but keep at it, don`t give up. I believe public land deer are much more of a challenge.
Here in Michigan, its the illegal use of ATV`s, and the use of bait. Baiting is legal in most of the state as long as the amount does not exceed
two gallons at any one time. However, no one follows the two gallon limit, and the counties that are supposed to be closed to baiting have bait piles at the end of every two-track.
Its frustrating to hike a mile or more down a trail that is closed to everything but foot travel, to hunt an area that is closed to baiting
only to have three guys zoom by you with their quads loaded with bait.
The deer have learned to deal with it, and you can too. You would be surprised at how much deer movement there is during the midday. Deer have learned that hunters are out more in the mornings
and the evenings, and they have adapted.
I took a big "meat doe" on Oct. 12th at just about 1:00, as she was chowing acorns.(on public land) Today I`m gonna got sit from about 10:00 am to about 2:00 pm
then I`m gonna come home, have an early Sunday dinner and go back out and sit for the last two hours of daylight.
Best of luck... Don`t give up
That's why leasing is so popular down south..
I worked a second job a few years to be able to pay lease fees. It's still challenging hunting without the frustrations of hunting public land.
If quality bowhunting is a priority in your life, you can find a way to afford it.
Jerry,
I understand the frustration, but also have felt the sense of special achievement when the arrow connects. Keep at it. I second the question- How did the dog get there?
A friend of mine has a dog that'll swim as far as we choose to paddle...
I had a couple hunters walk by me the other day, I was hid pretty good. It's bow season here and they both had big rifles, hope they were hunting bears...
I have no idea how the dogs got there. One of them looks, and acts, like a coon dog. The other, the retriever, has a collar on, and looks like its been there for a while. Felt bad for that one. Im assuming they swam acress. When the tide goes out, there is only about 300 feet of water to cross.
I hunt public land only, and one medic at the station hunts a lease where they use rifles and box blinds. He has a good time making fun at me when he kills deer!
I just reply when he really wants to "hunt" come with me. He gripes though if he cant drive a 4 wheeler to the base of his stand. I have to walk 10 minutes through the woods, my closest stand is half mile through the thick!
No matter though find a lease or a hunting club-I wish I could but they are hard as """" to get into.
Still I have a good time and lotsa land to unt-
J
I have chosen to hunt public land exclusively. I hunt large public tracts in WV, & OH. I think one is forced to become more resourceful. I try to avoid detection from deer & humans. My philosophy is be the first one in , & the last to leave. I'm not bragging but if a guy beats me to any one of my treestand locations, I'll tell him "You definitely earned it, enjoy your hunt."
I'm up @ 3am, I get to 20 ft by 1hr before sunrise, eat, nap, pee in the stand. Don't leave til dark, or I kill a shooter buck. Dec & Jan I kill as many does as will make mistakes. From 10-31 til 12-1 it's strictly shooter bucks. I, personally, can't see paying a bunch of $$$ for a lease, when I have access to 17,000 acres. All I gotta do is walk, walk, walk. :thumbsup:
I never knew public land was so bad...leasing and pay hunts...now thats bad for hunting
That's why it's called public land. We just have to expect the unexpected. I lost the shot of a life time to a guy walking his dog. On my way out, I passed him on the trail, smiled, and said "great day isn't it"? He agreed. I love public land. I hunt it more than the private land I have access to.
I love the challenge of public land.I hunt it almost exclusively.Keeps you on your toes,and feels so good to connect!
Just sometimes you can use those good people to your advantage.
Public land here can be extremely challenging and frustrating. You think your in "the spot" when some un-forseen thing happens and blows the whole thing.
My best advice from hunting public land for the last 10 years: Go where no sane person would go. Thats where the deer are, and other hunters aren't.
If you can take the time off. Monday through Friday is a different world. A fraction of the people and I often find myself alone on public land.
I agree with most of the above, and especially what Jerry Jeffer and Arwin said. I have been looking into hunting a large tract of public land this year around 4600 acres (spread eagle barrens), and even did some scouting earlier this year. Well, when I drove to the main entrance to to do some hunting there were about ten vehicles, so I just turned around and let em have it. There's more ways into the place, and most folks (I have seen) don't venture far from the beaten path.
The thing with public land is you simply cant get discouraged,you have to figure on people ruining your hunt. Ive hunted public land for 15 years and never seem to have a problem shooting deer. Now these last couple of years have been pretty bad,guys just shooting up the woods,now I dont have a problem with whoever wants to hunt It's the target shooters that scare me. You defintely have to work a little harder but the rewards are worth it. And I came close to one of those rewards yesterday morning my arrow sailed over a 3.5 year old 8ptr at 17 yrds I simply rushed the shot.
I hunt public land only as I have no private to hunt as I said. But I read alot yall have problems with people messing up your hunt?
I dont have that problem on the croatan as it is so large and I am usually as one on here said "where no SANE person will go." Dont even try mine w/out GPS! no fire trails no nothing, no trails at all just moving through big timber woods.
My question is do yalls public lands big tracts and you still get the people intrusion or is it broken up land/fields??
Plus our woods are not hardwoods (pretty, open) it is all thick, knarly pine woods. I dream of hunting like the mid west guys I see on TV- not just for the big buck opportunity- but for those pretty woods, like to know I could see more than 25 yards in the woods.
Later
Jason
My son and I had to race a x-bow guy to our spot the other day. :-D Stuff happens.
When I have hunted public land the very best time for me was early bow season when it was 90 to 100 degress out side . It makes for some tough hunting but I had the woods and the honey holes to my self. Its probally to late this year because the orange army is about to come out but next year look for planted food plots that the state puts out or ask your wildlife people if they are doing any planting for the wildlife . Make sure its a HOT buggy day in the early season and you will have it to your self .
Mike
I was fortunate enough too find a guy that lets me hunt his 100 acres for free. Four years now. But for 20 years prior I hunted public land. I hear ya. I have seen about every weird thing there. Plus the last 4 years strait I hunted pubic land. I have had 4 treestands stolen. The last one did it for me. I dont mind public land in rifle season. Its kind of fun. Good luck
My family ownes 38 acres in the middle of the national forest, but I hunt the public land only. Yes I have had hunts ruined, but have also had opportunities presented to me from other people moving around. I missed a nice buck when a small game hunter and his dog kicked him my way, and unfortunately a tree moved in front of my arrow. I agree that Monday through Friday is usually a great time to be in the woods on public land as there simply is no one around. Also, I go late in the year after regular rifle season and I have the woods to myself. The farther you go back in the less people you see.
The Blues are going away. Nope, didnt kill one yet, but I have located them! Had a doe well within shooting range today, but she had some young fawns with her, then I had a small buck woring a scrape about 40 yards from me. Also located a heck of a scrape line, and a bedding area. Things are looking up!
Jerry, Glad to hear things are lining up for you. What WMA are you hunting? Back Bay? There's not much public hunting out your way and it's hard getting permission to hunt on private land. I tried 20 years ago from Blackwater to Pungo and got a lot of NO's and crazy stories of houses, pets and livestock shot. Can't imagine it now. Of course I wasn't bowhunting then so a "bow only" approach may be the ticket you need.
Public Hunting does present a few challenges and frustrations. It requires a little patience and a little extra effort. I think the thing I dislike the most is not being able to leave stands out. They seem to dissappear around here.
The worst thing about most public land in TN is that it is actualy privatly owned and there are quota hunts drawn for them. Most places are only open certain days and have special regulations for each of them. In michigan even though i had several great private land spots to hunt i still enjoyed going out onto the state lad wich was open whenever season was. Every time ive ben out this year i have had some one walk within viewing distance if not right by me. i walked for 45 minuets on one piece of ground that is almost 80,000 acres where i thought no one would go and right after daylight there he was wandering around with his climber on his back. But i will succeed.
I agree with the earlier post on the difference in Monday-Friday and weekend hunts. I hunt an 1800 acre track in the mountains of SC and during the week I've only seen one other hunter, and he only walks about 1/8th a mile back and sits back for a nap and get a break from his wife. It's a rough track of land due to the thickets and hills, but there is a 100 acre archery only area about 2 miles back that I've never seen a soul in in 2 years of hunting. Hard as hell to get to, but well worth it. Can't wait till I find out how hard it is to drag a deer out though, or a hog for that matter. No wheeled traffic at all on the property.
J-Dog, Have you ever considered hunting the Roanoke River Wetlands just across the Roanoke River From Williamston. That area is one of the last hardwood bottom lands in the country. Lots of hardwwoods. I used to hunt the area when it was a private hunting club and a few times when it became public. There are alot of big bucks taken on that land. You can access the hunting area by foot or boat. I lived in the area most of my life until December when I moved to Kansas. I only have public land here and for some reason the public area that I hunt does not get much pressure.
Tonight I just came back from public hunting land, I have the same problem, and I thought it was just because it would be younger people that don't care, but tonight I had a man that was about 75 years old, he actually startled me, because he came down a deer track that is so used that it is about 18 in. wide, so he can get pretty close to me from that direction. When he did he was within 10 ft., and I hear this crackling voice " what do you hunting that thing"?
He was looking at my T 2 double bull blind, he muttered out " ducks, geese," I open the back window and said " deer", and he just said oh OK, and walked away, not more than 35 minutes later another guy brings a deer cart, down the middle of the cornfield, unharvested mind you. I asked him if he had a deer, because I didn't hear any shots, it's rifle season here, he said yeah at 10:30 a.m., it was now for 4:40 p.m., I am developing stories like this on a daily basis because I hunt in public land, I can never go to public land, without having something happened like this. Nobody wants to take the time to do homework, and respect others.
The only way that you can get by with this, is to go in deep, I am talk hip boots, maybe even chest high.
But like some have said when you do see deer the rewards are good. And you seem to forget about all those other incidences, you really have to work hard and do your homework more so on public land, and it does make you better hunter.
Another story that I heard today, a man was watching a doe run from his tree stand, she wasn't run from a buck, she had seven coyotes chasing her, he was able to kill one of them. So every piece a land has its own problems and rewards.
You can do as I did complain, complain, complain, or you can find out what works after you find out that complain doesn't do any good, and put to use and make it work for you. I really did enjoy my T 2, I picked it up brand-new for $190 that was with tax. I am taking it over to the Company, their close by, and tomorrow morning and put the light rods in it, it'll only way 8 lbs., it's going to be great. I also have the T 5 with light rods in it, it only weighs 12 lbs., they are great tool, especially on public land.
And that fellow that had to race somebody to his stand, I had that happened once, someone beat me to my spot, I set up right next to him, it never happen again. Some people train easy !
:biglaugh:
The track a land that I'm hunting now is 2850 acres, pretty good size. I will find my deer, it may take me till December 31,
but I'm determined that I'm not going to be an Archery Tec in a pro shop without getting my deer. Turkey Creek Longbow will score, sooner or later
Carl
You guy`s should move to Ga. We got a lot of public land in prime locations. I work weekends and usually have a 10,000 acre tract to myself. To date I have killed 12 pigs this year on it and had deer very close but no shots several times. killed 9 pigs and 5 deer last year. but you gotta go deep. I kill half my pigs using a boat.RC
Free public land is an American tradition, but darn that freedom! I agree with the Mon-Fri. crowd, if you can do it. I also agree that you need to put a ton of time in to learn about a place, and that includes learning all the animal movements, esp. the two-legged, four-wheeled ones.
: )
However, to take a deer on public land, land that we have all worked to protect and keep, that is no small thing...
I hunt public land. I love it. But, the land that I hunt is archery only. Lots of people but few are willing to walk 1.5 hours in the dark, as I am, so they don't make it back to where I go. Also, the bow only areas, while pressured, don't spook the deer nearly enough.
My previous post "River Camp 2007" was all done on public land.
Plus, ITS FREE HUNTING. Most Texans have never even heard of that concept. But MO is a great state for it.
I do run into people and have a hunt ruined, but you have to be happy just going out there or you wouldn't be a traditional hunter. Think of it like you would a coyote. Once it comes into the area, your hunt is over.
I hunted private and public land for many years. I finally got tired of spending 2-3 years at private spots learning about it only to lose it when a nephew or cousin of the owner starts bowhunting or the land changes owners. Public hunting only now. Much harder hunting but I know I will be able to hunt the same areas for years to come.
I just got back from public land, and I understand what you're saying about the private land, I can see getting all set up with a food plot and all that, and then someone coming in saying my son owns that land now, good-by.
The land that I'm hunting has quite a bit of Swamp area, so far out of the fellas I have talked to, I have seen a 8 point buck, and another one that a fellow shot, and tonight out of four other guys that were hunting, all day 12 hour day,seen no deer, but 4 bears and five coyotes, on Wednesday another fellas saw seven coyotes chasing one deer, he was able to shoot one of the coyotes. I asked the fellas tonight if he shot one of the five, and he said " I'm not hunting coyotes I'm hunting deer". I didn't bother to tell him he needs to eliminate some of them if he wants to see deer !
But it is frustrating but it is gun season, gun season last another two days. I had an area that was archery only, and if you used small or fine shot pallets in your shotgun, you could hunt there with the archers. But it was only 40 acres, and we just had a man in tree stand in camouflage, get shot, in that piece of land. This time they charge the fella he was mong, he said he saw some movement and shot at it, he said he thought it was a squirrel, I won't even talk about that. Don't know what he got, but they charged him. Unlawfully and carelessly shooting off a firearm. Needless to say I don't go to that area anymore. Too close to the city. No matter who it was, they should have been charged for hunting foolishly.
I didn't know it but in this area, that I'm hunting now, during bear season, there is a unlimited amount of tags for bear. You just use the same one and they keep giving you another one.
Carl